The Congressional Globe: Containing the Debates and Proceedings of the First Session of the Thirty-Sixth Congress
AUCTION 51 |
Thursday, June 23rd,
2011 at 1:00
Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts Graphic & Ceremonial Art Including: The Alfonso Cassuto Collection of Iberian Books, Part II
Lot 84
(AMERICAN JUDAICA).
The Congressional Globe: Containing the Debates and Proceedings of the First Session of the Thirty-Sixth Congress
Washington, D.C.: John C. Rives 1860
Est: $2,000 - $3,000
PRICE REALIZED $3,000
The First Jewish Prayer Intoned at the Opening of the House of Representatives
Morris Jacob Raphall (1798-1868), Rabbi of Cong. B'nai Jeshurun of New York, was the first Jew to deliver a prayer in the U.S. Congress. Raphall closed his remarks with the Hebrew words of the ancient priestly benediction, here as recorded by the Congressional Globe: "Yebarekeka A-donai Veyishmireka…" (p.649).
As the historian Bertram Korn noted, this event was noteworthy in that it was "the initial recognition by the House of Representatives of the equal status of Judaism, with Christianity as an American faith."